Swan application deadline for upcoming hunt seasons

By Don Quilici

Applications for 650 swan hunting tags must be received through the mail (Wildlife Administrative Services, P.O. Box 1345, Fallon, Nevada 89407 or online (www.huntnevada.com) by no later than 5 p.m. on Sept. 17.

Persons possessing a valid annual Nevada hunting license and both a current Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Stamp, and a current Nevada Duck Stamp, when required, may apply for one of the 650 available swan tags.

Results will be provided by first Friday in October.

This season is open only for those hunters who possess a special Swan hunting tag.

The limit is one tag per hunter.

Opens Oct. 16 only in Churchill, Lyon and Pershing Counties, and closes on Jan. 2, 2005. All other counties closed.

Successful hunters are required to have their tags and swans validated at selected sites within five days of harvesting a swan.

Special Note:

All waterfowl hunters are required to have both Federal and state waterfowl hunting stamps.

A Nevada State Duck Stamp is required for any person, 12-64 years old, who hunts migratory birds, except mourning or white-winged dove, snipe, coot or moorhen.

A Federal Migratory Game Bird Hunting Stamp is required for any person 16 or older who hunts any migratory waterfowl.

Hunters must also possess a Harvest Information Program (HIP) validation number from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

That number is free and is available by calling (800) WETLAND or by going to Internet website www.wetland.net.

Non-toxic shot is required in shotgun shells.

Shotguns must be plugged to limit overall shot shell capacity to only three shells.

Open to nonresidents who have a valid annual Nevada hunting license and required waterfowl stamps.

Any remaining tags will be available on a first come, first served basis through the mail or over the counter during normal business hours (M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) at the Wildlife Administrative Services Office, 185 North Maine St. Fallon, Nev.

Applications are available at all Department of Wildlife offices and select license agents, or can be downloaded from www.ndow.org.

Special Note:

If a harvest of five (5) trumpeter swans is reached, the swan season is closed for the remainder of the season.

For information, call the Nevada Department of Wildlife headquarters in Reno at 688-1500 during regular business hours.